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Especially if I was going to get my ass handed to me all over again at the ass-crack of dawn.
“I was thinking of something more like roast veggies, grilled chicken, and some brown rice. Can you make that happen?”
“With pleasure,” said Chess. Within seconds a plate materialized in front of me, complete with silverware and a napkin. I would’ve thrown my arms around him if they weren’t so tired.
As I dug into my dinner, my wicked boys continued their mindless drunken chatter, bickering about the meaning behind Chess’s grin.
“He always acts like he knows something we don’t,” Hatter complained. Callister just rolled his eyes.
“He’s a cat. He’s probably grinning at his reflection. Everyone knows cats are insufferable in their vanity.”
Chess grinned even wider. “Perhaps I smile to keep you from guessing what I’m truly thinking.”
Hatter furrowed his brows in curiosity. “So, the grin is a riddle? I love riddles! Here’s one—I speak without a mouth and I hear without ears. I have no body, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?”
Callister let out a rare lighthearted laugh.
“Pffft, you come alive if someone brushes up against you in a crowded room!”
As the three of them tried to solve the riddle, my attention zeroed in on the plate in front of me. My fork scraped against the porcelain as I shoveled food into my mouth, each bite a blur of desperate sustenance. The savory aroma of my dinner filled my nostrils, and each bite brought a satisfying warmth to my stomach.
My muscles relaxed just a little bit more with every mouthful, losing their sharp, painful edge. I felt a warmth spreading through my limbs, healing me so well that I was tempted to pour a glass of wine and try to solve Hatter’s riddle.
But no...
I needed to make better choices.
Staying up late and drinking and solving riddles would only make tomorrow’s practice session with Jack a million times worse. I didn’t know how...but I didn’t doubt he’d find a way to do it.
Since I’d skipped the wine, I grabbed two cupcakes and pushed my chair away from the table.
“Thanks for dinner, Chess. I’m going to go check on Ransom and see how he’s doing. I’ll see you guys around.”
“Let us know if you need a bedtime story,” Chess replied.
“Or a lullaby,” added Hatter.
“Or if you just want to fuck,” Callister said.
He wasn’t one to mince words.
“I’ll let you know,” I told them, then left the Great Hall.
I walked down the brightly lit corridors of the icy castle, wondering how the torches didn’t melt the frost that glittered all over the walls.
Then I remembered that this was Wonderland—things worked differently here.
As I came around the corner, I saw Amari stepping out of Ransom’s room before closing the door behind her.
“Is Ransom alright?” I asked with concern. I lifted up the cupcakes I’d brought. “I thought he’d like a snack.”
She gave me a soft, warm smile.
“He’s sleeping now, but his health is greatly improved. All the poison has finally been drawn from his wings.”
My eyes lit up with relief and excitement.
“That’s great news!”
